Devotees take the forest route instead of Charmadi Ghat road to reach Dharmasthala.
Credit: DH Photo
Chikkamagaluru: Devotees, in a hurry to reach Dharmasthala on Tuesday, a day before Shivaratri, not only took the road through Charmadi Ghat but also ventured into the forest making their way through jungle trails.
The number of pilgrims travelling to Dharmasthala on foot increased in the last four to five days. From Saturday to Monday, at least 50,000 pilgrims travelled along the stretch each day and the number was even higher on Tuesday.
Many devotees after their final stop at Kottigehara and nearby areas began their journey on Tuesday early morning in a bid to reach Dharmasthala by evening.
But as Charmadi Ghat roads were crowded with pilgrims, many chose to trek the forest route believing it would be a shorter and faster. They even took risky paths, descending cliffs and climbing hills.
The area has reserved forests with wild animals like elephants, leopards, and tigers but they moved forward taking all these risks. Some even sustained minor injuries during the trek.
Between Monday and Tuesday noon, the entire ghat was crowded with pilgrims, causing disruptions in vehicle movement. Due to the movement of a large number of devotees, vehicles had to move slowly.
“The police patrolled the area issuing cautions while forest officials were present at certain points. However, they were unable to prevent devotees from venturing into the reserved forest and taking risky routes,” said locals.
Plastic waste
Additionally, the Charmadi Ghat roads were littered with plastic waste. People distributing food and water to the pilgrims increased the number of discarded plastic bottles along the route. Piles of plastic bottles and other waste were seen all along the way from Kottigehara to the end of Charmadi Ghat.
The number of pilgrims visiting Dharmasthala during Maha Shivaratri has been increasing over the years and despite the Forest Department placing collection bags for dumping plastic bottles, plastic waste is seen scattered throughout the route.
The lack of proper management and control over the pilgrimage has led to this kind of disorder, locals expressed with frustration.